The Palace of Knossos, situated on the Kephala hill south of Heraklion, Crete, stands as a testament to the ancient Minoan civilization. First occupied around 7000 BCE during the Aceramic Neolithic period, the site boasts a rich history spanning over five millennia before the First Palace’s construction.
The First Palace
The First Palace, built during the Middle Minoan IB-IIA period, marked a significant shift in Minoan society from a clan-based structure to a hierarchical one. This monumental building, covering nearly 10,000 square meters on the ground floor alone, served as a hub for administrative, storage, and cult activities. The West Court, a public meeting place, connected the palace to the town through a network of roads. The raised walkways and kouloures (round pits of debated purpose) in the West Court highlight the palace’s grandeur.
The First Palace also introduced innovative features like storage magazines, showcasing the society’s wealth and resources. Workshops within and around the palace indicate thriving craft production, while the presence of loom weights suggests weaving activities. Despite suffering earthquake damage throughout its existence, the Old Palace was never completely leveled; instead, damaged sections were rebuilt, often with different architectural elements.
The New Palace
Following a massive earthquake at the end of the Middle Minoan IIIA period, the palace underwent major reconstruction, giving rise to the New Palace in the Middle Minoan IIIB period. This reconstruction involved leveling parts of the west side and filling basement rooms on the east side to create new terraces. The palace we see today largely dates from this period and the subsequent Late Minoan IA period.
Notable changes during the Neopalatial period include the expansion of the West Court, the creation of the South Propylaeum and the Grand Staircase, and the addition of the Throne Room in the West Wing. The Throne Room, a subject of ongoing debate, may have served as a space for religious rituals rather than a king’s seat. The palace also saw the emergence of elaborate wall paintings, depicting scenes like bull-leaping and ceremonial processions.
The Final Palace Period
Around 1450 BCE, widespread destruction occurred across Crete, affecting palaces and settlements. While Knossos suffered damage, it wasn’t destroyed like other palaces. This period saw the introduction of Linear B, an early form of Greek script used by the Mycenaeans, suggesting their presence at Knossos. The final destruction of the palace, possibly in Late Minoan IIIA2 (1325-1300 BCE), left it deserted, but the town continued to exist.
Key Features of the Knossos Minoan Palace
- Construction Period: First Palace: Middle Minoan IB-IIA (c. 2000-1700 BCE), New Palace: Middle Minoan IIIB-Late Minoan IA (c. 1700-1450 BCE)
- Location: Kephala hill, south of Heraklion, Crete
- Dimensions: Approximately 20,000 square meters
- Historical Significance: Center of Minoan civilization, showcases advanced architecture, art, and technology, provides evidence of complex social and political structures, and played a crucial role in Mediterranean trade and culture.
- Current Status: Archaeological site, partially reconstructed by Arthur Evans.
Later Stages and Decline
Knossos continued to be inhabited during the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods, as evidenced by various archaeological finds, including the remains of buildings, mosaic floors, and cemeteries. However, the city’s focus shifted away from the palace complex, and the city’s prominence declined compared to its Minoan heyday. Two basilicas from the First Byzantine period indicate that the city was still active during this time. One basilica lies beneath the newer church of Agia Sophia in the Makrys Toichos settlement of Knossos, while the other, a three-aisled basilica with mosaic floors, is located next to the old Sanatorium (now Venizelio Hospital of Heraklion).
Knossos appears to have followed the fate of other urban centers in Crete and declined early. Unlike other Cretan basilicas, which show signs of destruction, the basilica at the Sanatorium seems to have been gradually abandoned and collapsed due to disuse. The site was deserted early on, with only the cemeteries maintaining the interest of Christians. The fate of the city was mirrored by the episcopal see, which retained the title “Knossos” but was likely transferred to Heraklion (then Chandax), as evidenced by Patmian records from 1118 mentioning “Paul the humble bishop of Knossos or Chandax.” However, it seems that during the Second Byzantine period, the bishop resided not within Chandax but in the “bourgoi” (suburbs) outside the city.
The view that the seat was transferred to Agios Myron is a subject of debate, with evidence for this transfer only existing from the Venetian period onwards. Nevertheless, Knossos, as a settlement named Makrytoichos, continued to exist during the Second Byzantine period. Interestingly, one of the two remnants from the Arab period is found in Knossos, suggesting that Arabs also inhabited the area during that time.
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A lot of people.
The guided tour of the site is fascinating, even essential, otherwise you risk finding yourself in the middle of old, uninteresting stones. The absence of an audio guide provided/offered directly by the site opens the way to certain excesses: more or less supervised guides, "negotiable" prices, tablet rental for €20 (!)... We ended up finding an application who provided us with the essential elements to understand our visit (Knossos audio guide). We loved it in the end.
Dispersive, the guide if you want to add it costs €25 per person plus €15 for the ticket.
Since there were no audio guides, we opted for a virtual guide on a tablet (€20 each). The audio was pitiful, very low, it came and went; The virtual reconstructions were disorienting....in short, na mandrakata!
The Internet wasn't working so it wasn't possible to download the app they sponsored with the QRCode (knossospalace) for the pdf files... offline, again na mandrakata!
The only half positive note was free parking... which was full.
Cradle of the first advanced civilization in Europe.
It is recommended to prepare the visit with texts or YouTube videos to give the tour structure.
Before entry it is possible to book tours in your local language, but the entrance fee is additional...
Parking in October was possible, but I imagine it would be difficult during the peak season...
At the entrance the lady cannot apply the senior refusal to the 85 year old grandmother!
I know she looks young but still... a little common sense, which this unsympathetic and frigid girl failed to see!
Change career
Due to the time of year it wasn't overcrowded and we were able to look at everything in peace.
Is it worth a visit? In any case. Whether alone, with a tour guide or an audio guide, everyone as they like.
Die gebuchte Uhrzeit ist nur eine Empfehlung. Am Scanner beim Drehkreuz ist das gelinde gesagt vollkommen egal. Wir konnten problemlos eine Stunde früher rein.
Go early otherwise it will be very hot and there will be bus loads of tourists
We visited as part of a cruise ship tour, and there were other large groups from other cruise ships there at the same time. This meant a few queues and easier for us to leave our group and find our own way around (the signage at each location decent).
Building and restoration taking place so sone areas were roped off.
Steps and rough ground so wear decent walking shoes 👞
The best finds are in the archaeological museum in the port 👀
Modern reinterpretation has dominated sone areas. My view is this is part of the site's history now.
A box ticked to visit but we wouldn't be in a hurry to go back as little extra to see.
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